Ticket dispensing machine

ABSTRACT

A ticket dispensing machine in which a motor drives a ticket advance conveyor and also drives a guillotine for severing the tickets, the cycles being counted by a control assembly having levers which prescribe the number of cycles for the machine. A stop mechanism prevents operation of the guillotine until the end of the cycle and a detent prevents movement of the conveyor and hence the tickets, unless actuated by the motor.

[ .Jan. 14, 1975 TICKET DISPENSING MACHINE [76] Inventor:

[22] Filed:

W. T. Schackelford, 149 Old Canton Rd., Marietta, Ga. 30060 Jan. 26, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 326,675

[52] U.S. Cl. 83/205, 83/243 [51] Int. Cl. G07b 5/02, G07b 3/00 (58] Field of Search 83/243, 205

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,304,977 5/1919 Helsel 83/243 X 1,928,785 10/1933 Helsel 83/243 1,992,767 2/1935 Pierson 83/243 2,035,524 3/1936 Black et al 83/243 X 2,321,545 6/1943 Dodegge 83/243 X Helsel 83/243 X Helsel 83/243 Primary Examiner.l. M. Meister Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Edward Taylor Newton [57] ABSTRACT A ticket dispensing machine in which a motor drives a ticket advance conveyor and also drives a guillotine for severing the tickets, the cycles being counted by a control assembly having levers which prescribe the number of cycles for the machine. A stop mechanism prevents operation of the guillotine until the end of the cycle and a detent prevents movement of the conveyor and hence the tickets, unless actuated by the motor.

10 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PATENTEB JAN 1 4 I975 SHEET 10F 6 l a we PATENTEUJAN 14l975 SHEET 2 0F 6 PATENTED JAN 1 41875 SHEET 30F 6 PATENTED JAN 1 4|975 SHEET Q UF 6 TICKET DISPENSING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a ticket dispensing machine and is more particularly concerned with a ticket dispensing machine which will automatically dispense a prescribed number of tickets when a designated lever is depressed.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART In the past, ticket dispensing machines have been devised which will selectively dispense tickets as prescribed by a selected lever. Such machines are, however, quite expensive, complicated and bulky. The present invention provides a reliable, low cost portable ticket dispensing machine capable of selectively dispensing a selected number of tandem arranged admission tickets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly described, the present invention includes a ticket dispensing machine which will automatically dispense a prescribed number of tandem connected tickets, in response to the depression of an appropriate lever, the line of tickets, dispensed, being automatically severed from the remaining tickets after the prescribed number have been dispensed. The structure of the present invention includes a control assembly having a plurality of juxtaposed levers having individual control detents cooperating with a common latch for a common release drum. The release drum is indexed by a pawl and ratchet in response to the cycles of the machine, the latch holding the drum in its rotated position. The drum has angularly oriented cams to lift and release the detents selectively while a spring returns the drum to an original position. The dispensing assembly includes a motor switch, controlled by the control assembly and a motor which drives the feed conveyor for the tickets. A guillotine is cyclically cocked and released by a cam of the motor, the full stroke of the guillotine being arrested so long as the detent is latched. The motor also rotates a drive which lifts the conveyor arrest detent for the ticket advance conveyor and the drive incrementally advances the conveyor by the length of a ticket, each cycle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ticket dispensing machine constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of one dispensing assembly of the ticket dispensing machine disclosed in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of certain of the mechanisms depicted in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the dispensing mechanism of the device illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of that portion of the mechanism illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of certain elements of the mechanism illustrated in FIG. 2, in one position of operation;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing still another position of operation;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIGS. 6 and 7 and showing still another position of operation of the mechanism;

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective fragmentary view of a portion of the dispensing mechanism of the dispensing machine illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a front view of the control assembly of the mechansim illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line 1l--ll in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along l2-12 in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12 showing the mechanism after a key has been depressed; and

FIG. 14 is a schematic side elevational view of the ticket which can be dispensed by the dispensing machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now in detail to the embodiment chosen for the purpose of illustrating the present invention, numeral 20, in FIG. 1 denotes generally the ticket containing magazine of the cover dispensing machine. This magazine 20 is a rectangular box having parallel sides such as side 21, a bottom 22, and] a back 23. A front cover 24 is hingedly secured by hinge 25 to the forward edge of bottom 22 and the cover 24 is locked in a closed position by lock 26. When the lock 26 is unlocked, thecover 24 may be pivoted about hinge 25, so as to provide access to the interior of the magazine 20.

In the present embodiment there is a vertical partition 27, shown in broken lines, which divides the magazine into two vertical compartments which respectively receive folded groups or lines 30 of tandem connected tickets 30a folded as depicted in FIG. 14. If desired, an upper section 31a of tandem arranged tickets 30a is connected to a lower section 31b of tandem arranged tickets 30a by an adhesive tab 32 connecting adjacent end portions of the two sections 31a and 31b, as illustrated in FIG. 14.

It will be understood that a stack such as illustrated in FIG. 14 is stored in one compartment and another stack of tickets is stored in the other compartment. It is understood, that under normal conditions there would be a difference in price between the tickets 30a dispensed from one compartment and the tickets 30a dispensed from another compartment.

The magazine 20 is provided with a flat top 34 which is substantially wider than the bottom 22 so as to provide outwardly extending opposed flanges 35 which are adapted to receive the dispenser housing 40 of the dispensing machine. Housing 40 is removed from the magazine 20 by being slid, rearwardly. The forward movement of the housing 40, however, is arrested by an upstanding stop 37 carried by the forward portion of the top 34. The stop 37 is an upstanding plate which terminates in an arcuate forwardly and downwardly curved guide 38, the guide 38 being semi-cylindrical and terminating in the magazine 20 and below the top plate 34. Disposed in concentric relationship to the guide 38 is an upstanding tongue 39 on the free end of the cover 24.

The tandem arranged tickets 30a are fed through the passageway defined by plates 38 and tongue 39 into the forward ends of receiving tunnels 41a and 41b of the housing 40.

It will be understood that two identical left and right hand dispensing mechanisms are illustrated in FIG. 1, one dispensing mechanism for dispensing the less expensive tickets 30a being operated by the keys 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d and 42e and the other dispensing mechanism for the more expensive tickets 30a being operated by the keys 43a, 43b, 43c, 43d and 43e, seen in FIG. 1.

In more detail, the housing 40 includes a pair of parallel sides 49 and 50, a front 51 and a rear 52. The housing 40 also includes a pair of opposed bottom flanges 53 which are parallel to the top 54. As seen in FIG. 2, the top 54 is hinged by hinge 55 to the back 52 while a latch mechanism 56 between the front 51 and the top 54 retains the top 54 in a closed condition parallel to bottom flanges 53.

The side 49 supports a motor housing 44 and on the other side supports a motor housing 45. A motor (not shown) within the motor housing 44 drives a shaft 46. A second motor (not shown) within the housing 45 drives a second shaft (not shown) connected to the second mechanism. The less expensive tickets 30a are dispensed through an opening 47a and the more expensive tickets 30a are dispensed through an opening 47b. The motor of housing 44 controls the dispensing of the less expensive tickets 30a and the motor of housing 45 controls the dispensing of the more expensive tickets 30d. Since the mechanisms are identical, except for the positioning of the motors, only the mechanism for dispensing the less expensive tickets 30a will be described. It will be understood, of course, that electricity from an electrical source (not shown) is provided to both of the motors (not shown) when the switch 48 on the side 49 of housing 40 is turned on and an appropriate key, such as key 42a or 43a is depressed.

Within the housing 40 are the parallel tunnels, 41a and 41b supported in juxtaposed relationship by and below a platform 57 each tunnel being a rectangular tubular member. The platform 57, in turn, is supported by opposed downwardly projecting flanges, such as flange 58, secured to the sides, such as side 49. The tunnels 41a and 41b and the platform 57 terminate in the central portion of the housing 40 while brackets such as bracket 59 support release plungers such as plunger 60, below and parallel to the tunnels 41a and 41b.- Each release plunger 60 protrudes outwardly through the front 51 and is provided with a head 61 for permitting manual actuation of the plunger 60. This head 61 is depressed when the tickets 30a are fed into the machine, as will be described, hereinafter.

. The front 51 is open at its central portion and this opening 66 is covered by a removable cover 62 having a plurality of upwardly opening slots 63 which receive the respective leversactuated by the keys 42a and 43a etc. Slightly above the bottom flanges 53 are the spaced opposed upper flanges such as flange 63 carried by plates, such as plate 64. The flanges, such as channel 65, which are received on the upper flanges 35 of the magazine when the housing 40 is installed on magazine 20.

The mechanism for dispensing each line of tickets 30a includes a control mechanism, denoted generally by numeral 70 and a dispensing mechanism, denoted generally by numeral 80. The illustrated control mechanism 70 includes the keys 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d and 42e and may be removed through the front opening 66 as a unit, when the front plate 62 and appropriate bolts (not shown) are removed. In like fashion, the illustrated dispensing mechanism 80 may be removed as a unit when the top 54 is opened and appropriate bolts (not shown) are removed. In FIG. 2, the control mechanism 70 and the dispensing mechanism are shown in their cooperating positions, being held in place by the bolts (not shown) through the side 49.

It will be understood, of course, that a similar control mechanism (not shown) and dispensing mechanism (not shown) is provided for the other side of the machine, neither of these being illustrated, except that the keys 43a, 43b, 43c, 43d and 43e are shown.

Referring specifically to the control mechanism 70, it includes a pair of L-shaped flat parallel side panels 71 and 72, best seen in FIG. 10. Front and rear plates 73 and 74 extend between the side panels 71 and 72 so as to hold these panels in parallel relationship while a plurality of spaced parallel shaves 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 81 and 82 extend between and are supported by the parallel side panels 71 and 72. A top horizontal plate 83, having end flanges such as flange 84, is also secured between the side panels 71. and 72.

Mounted in the side panels 71 and 72 are a plurality of knurled nuts 86 which are adapted to receive the mounting bolts (not shown) so as to maintain the control assembly 70 in position.

Pivotally mounted on the shaft 76 are a plurality of actuating levers 87a, 87b, 87c, 87d and 87e each of the actuating levers 87a, 87b, 87c, 87d, 87e is identical in shape to the actuating lever 87a seen best in FIG. 11. They are respectively urged in a counter clockwise direction about shaft 76, as viewed in FIG. 11, by springs 88a, 88b, 88c, 88d, 88e. The levers 87a, 87b, 87c, 87d and 87e spaced apart, equally, by spacer lugs 89.

Projecting approximately horizontally from the actuating levers 87a, 87b, 87c, 87d, 87e, respectively, are the control levers 90a, 90b, 90c, 90d and 90e, seen in FIG. 1. The control levers 90a, 90b, 90c, 90d and 902 are, respectively, provided with the keys 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d and 42e.

The springs 88a and 88b are connected to the upper end of a counting lever 91 which is rigidly connected through a pivot block 93 to a downwardly extending wall control arm 92. The pivot block 93 is carried by shaft to 75 and the counting lever 91 extends downwardly from the pivot block 93, parallel to the downwardly extending control arm 92. The lower end of the counting lever 91 is provided with a forwardly projecting screw 95, threadedly received in the counting lever 91 and held in place by a lock nut 96. Thus, the screw 95 may be rotated so as to shorten or lengthen the projecting end of the screw.

The other springs 88c, 88d and 88e are connected to the shaft 75, as seen in FIG. 10.

The lower ends of the actuating levers 87a, 87b, 87c, 87d and 87e are provided with pivot pins, such as pivot pin mounted on the lever 87a. These pivot pins, such as pivot pin 100, carry the forwardly projecting push rods 101a, 101b, 101e, 101d and 101e each of which is edged in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot pin such as pin 100 by springs such as spring 102 connected between the rearmost end of the push rod and a pin, such as pin 103 on its associated actuating lever.

Each of the push rods 101a, 101b, 101e, 101d and l0le is identical and hence only the push rod 101a and its cooperating mechanism will be described in detail. Forwardly of the pivot pin 100, the push rod 101a is provided with a downwardly projecting shoulder 104 which is urged into abutting relationship with the rear plate 74, by means of the spring 88a. Thus, the spring 88a normally holds the lever 87a in substantially a vertical position and the lever on 90a in substantially a horizontal position seen in FIGS. 11 and 12. The depressing of key 42a, however, will cause the lever 87a to pivot to the position shown in broken lines in FIG. 13, momentarily and then, when the key 42a is released, the spring 88a will return lever 87a to its vertical position as seen in FIGS. 11 and 12.

The depressing of key 42a will urge the associated push rod 101a forwardly as illustrated in broken lines on FIG. 13. The forward end portion of the push rod 101a is provided with an outwardly and downwardly bent tab 105 which overlaps and is slidably received on the upper surface of a detent 106a. It slides against a shoulder of a knotch 107 in the upper edge of detent 106a, upon any appreciable forward movement of the push rod 101a. Thus, upon forward movement of the push rod la,the detent 106a will be carried forwardly because of engagement of the tab 105 with the knotch 107. The knotch 107, however, is tapered rearwardly so that the tab 105 will ride out of the knotch 107, upon rearward movement of the push rod 101a. The detent 106a, however, is urged rearwardly by a spring 107a secured to the shaft 77 as seen in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13. This spring 107a also tends to pivot the detent 106a downwardly. It will be understood that the detents 106b, 106e, 1060! and 106e are connected in like fashion to the push rods 101b, 1010,101d and 101e, respectively.

The forward portion of detents 106a, 106b, 106e, 106d and 106e are respectively received in and slidably carried in spaced upwardly opening slots 109a, 109b, 1090 in the forward plate 73 and while the rear portions thereof are carried in similar upwardly opening slots, such as slot 110, in FIG. 11, in the rear plate 74. The forward end portion of the detents 106a, 106b, 106e, 106d and l06e are bent to angular positions to provide forward stops 111a, 111b, 1110, 111d and 111e which, under normal conditions, arrests the rearward movement of the respective detents.

The detents 106b, 1060, 106d, and 106:: are identical in shape to detent 106a which includes, at its rearmost portion, an upwardly opening knotch providing a ledge, such as ledge 112. A common release plate 113 extends across all such ledges 112 and is provided, at its forward ends with trunions received in holes, such as hole 114 in panel 72. Pressure upon the rearwardly extending free portion of the release plate 113 will cause the detents 106a, 106b, 1060, 106d and 106a to pivot about the plate 74 so as to urge the forward end portions of all detents, upwardly.

The lower edge portion of the detent 1060 is provided with a knotch 115 which, when the detent is moved forwardly and downwardly, passes over a transverse latching bar 116 which is common to all detents, the latching bar 116 passing beneath all detents 106a, 106b, 1060, 106d and 106e being carried by a swingable common latch 117, pivotally mounted on shaft 81, in front of the arm 92.

Above the shaft 81, the latching lever 117 is provided with a switch actuating plate 118, the function of which will be described, hereinafter. The lower end portion of the latching lever 117 is provided with a rearwardly extending pawl or latch 120 which is adapted to engaged respective teeth of a ratchet 121 and hold the ratchet in its rotated position. When any one of the detents 106a, 106b, 106e, 106d or 106e is urged forwardly by its push rod 101a, 101b, 1010, 101d or 101e its knotch, such as knotch passes over the bar 116 so that the detent drops down, engaging the bar 116. As the key 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d or 42e is released, the action of its spring, such as spring 107a, will urge the pawl into engagement with the ratchet 121 and hold it in such engagement until the detent 106a, 106b, 106e, 106d or 106e is lifted. The lifting of the detent releases the bar 116 from the knotch, such as knotch 115 so that pawl 120 releases the tooth of the ratchet 121, with which it is engaged.

The ratchet 121 is an integral part at one end portion of a plastic release drum 125 which is rotatably mounted on the shaft 78. The release drum 125, inwardly of the ratchet 121, is provided with a plurality of angularly related cams 126 which, respectively, are adapted to engage the bottom surfaces of the detents 106a, Ob, 1060, 106d, 106e for releasing the same, at different angular positions of the drum 125. The cam 126 for the detent 106a is illustrated in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13. The drum 125 is urged by a spring 127 connected to shaft 77 in a counterclockwise direction, as illustrated in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13, against a stop (not shown) so that the drum 125 is always in a given angular position, prior to the time that one of the keys, such as key 42a, is depressed.

A pawl 128, pivotally connected by pivot pin 129 to the lower end portion of counter arm 92, is urged by spring 130 into engagement with the ratchet 121 for indexing it. Each time the counter arm 91 is urged rearwardly, the pawl 128 is moved to the right in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 so as to rotate the ratchet wheel 121 and hence the drum 125 by a prescribed increment of one tooth. The drum 125 is held each time in this angular position, due to the fact that the pawl 120 engages and locks the prescribed tooth of the ratchet 121, provided that a detent 106a, 106b, 1060, 106d or 1062 is holding the latch 117 in its locked position, as illustrated in broken lines of FIG. 13.

The caming surfaces or cams 126, for the respective detents, are so arranged that one cycle of the pawl 128 will cause the caming surface 126 to lift the detent 106a, two cycles of the pawl 128 will rotate the drum 125 sufficiently for the caming surface 126 to release the detent 106b, three cycles of the pawl 128 is sufficient to cause the caming surface 126 to release the detent 106c, etc.

DISPENSING ASSEMBLY Referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawing, it will be seen that the switch actuating plate 118 on latch or lever 117 is engaged by a plunger 200 which is slidably carried by a journal 201 on a flange 202 of a switch mounting base 203 on a flat vertical base plate 204 of the dispensing assembly 80.

Forwardly of the end of the plunger 200, on face 203, is a micro switch 205, having a switch arm 206. The switch arm 206 is actuated by inward movement so as to close the switch 205. This switch 205, in turn, controls the motor (not shown) for driving shaft 46 of the dispensing assembly. Carried by the switch arm 206, is an upstanding switch control arm 1207, the bottom portion of which is provided with a camming finger 208 and the upper portion of which is provided with an engagement arm 209. The caming finger 208 projects, angularly, outwardly and downwardly from the switch control arm 207 and is engaged by the lower end portion of the rectangular control plate 210. The control plate 210 is urged toward the flange 202 by a spring 211 carried by a pin 212 passing through a hole in the central portion of the control plate 210. Thus, the lower portion of the control plate 210 is held in an angular position with respect to the flange 202 by one end of the plunger 200. When the plunger 200 is moved forwardly by the plate 118, it urges the finger 208 toward the switch 205 sufficiently to close the switch 205 actuating the motor to rotate shaft 46. At the same time, the control plate 210 pivots clockwise about the upper edge of flange 202.

Adjacent to the upper end of the control plate 210 is a cylindrical rocker block 215 having at its periphery, a radially projecting ledge or latch 216, capable of being engaged by the end of control plate 210, when it is pivoted by the plunger 200, provided the block 215 is rotated clockwise through an angle of about 45. The block 215 is rotatably carried on a transverse shaft 217 mounted between plate 204 and a longitudinally extending reinforcing strap or bar 220, which is disposed parallel to an outwardly of the plate 204. The block 215 is provided with a radially extending rocker arm 221 which engages the rear end 255 of a flat rectangular guillotine carrying bar 222 which extends longitudinally above and parallel to the upper edge of the plate 204. The forward end of the bar 222 carries a guillotine 223 removably mounted thereto by bolts.

As seen in FIG. 5, the guillotine 223 is a flat bifrocated plate having an arcuate concaved cutting edge 225 which is in the central portion of the plate between the guide arms 226. This arcuate cutting edge 225 cooperates with a straight transverse rearwardly facing cutting edge 227, seen in FIG. 4, of the cooperating flat base knife 228. The base knife 228 is secured by bolts 229 to a flat carrying platform 230 secured by one leg to an L-shaped outerplate 231, on the feed side of plate 204 and and L-shaped outerplate 232 on the cam side and parallel to the plate 204 and plate 231.

For supporting the guillotine carrying bar 222, a slide plate 240 is disposed parallel to the surface of the plate 204. The slide plate 240 is provided with a pair of horizontal spaced parallel longitudinally aligned slots 241 and 242 through which the shaft 217 and a pin 243 respectively project, the pin 243 being carried by the plate 204. Appropriate washers 244 and 245 retain the plate 240 in place for slidable longitudinal movement. The upper edge portion of plate 240 is integrally connected to the edge portion of the guillotine carrying bar 222 for movement, therewith. A spring 246 seen best in FIGS. 4 and 5 connected between the slide plate 240 and the plate 232 urges the plate 240, the bar 222 and the guillotine 223 forwardly to the closed forward most position shown in full lines in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Carried by the shaft 46 is an involute cam 250 which is disposed adjacent to the plate 204. The shaft 46 passes through and is journalled by the plate 204. A cam follower 251 is mounted on the outer side of the plate 240 and this camfollower 251 rides against the peripheral surface of the cam 250 so as to be moved from the position shown in full lines in FIG. 4 to the position shown in broken lines in FIG. 4, as the cam 250 is rotated. The spring 246 constantly urges the cam follower 251 into engagement with the peripheral surface of cam 250; thus, as the cam 250 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 4, the cam follower is released, each time the outer tip 252 of the cam 250 passes beyond the cam follower 251. Bolts 253 hold the cam follower 251 on the plate 240.

The rearmost edge 255 of bar 222, upon rearward movement of bar 222 engages the rocker arm 221, moving it from an upwardly and forwardly inclined po sition as shown in full lines in FIGS. 2 and 4 to essentially a vertical position as shown in broken lines in FIG. 4, during each cycle of the bar 222. A spring 256, extending between strap 220 and arm 221, normally urges the rocker arm 221 into engagement with the edge 255 and, therefore, returns the rocker arm 221 to its forwardly and upwardly inclined position, unless the latch 216 has been engaged by the upper edge of the control plate 210, at which time the rocker arm 221, after being moved rearwardly during the first cycle of operation of the guillotine carrying bar 222, remains in its vertical position.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the block 215 is provided with adjustable screws or abutment members 260 and 261, the abutment members 260 and 261 being threaded and having lock nuts 262 and 263. These screws 260 and 261 are threadedly received in the periphery of the block 215, the screw 216 being disposed to project horizontally rearwardly, when the rocker arm 221 is in its forward most position, as illustrated in full lines in FIGS. 2 and 4. The abutment member or screw 261 is longer than the abutment member 260 and is adapted to be disposed horizontally, projecting rearwardly, when the rocker arm 221 is rotated to a vertical position such as when the latch 216 is engaged on the end of the plate 210, as illustrated in broken lines in FIG. 4.

Rearwardly of the shoulder or end 255 and rearwardly of the block 215, the plate 240 is provided with a rigid stop 265 having a resilient bumper 266 thereon which is adapted to engage the rearwardly projecting abutment member 260 or 261, as the case may be. This limits the forward movement of the carrying bar 222 and hence the guillotine 223. The effective length of the abutment member 260 and 261 are such that when the bumper 266 engages the shorter abutment member 260, the guillotine 223 is then in a closed condition and will have severed the tickets disposed between the blades 225 and 227. On the other hand, when the bumper 266 engages the longer abutment member 261, it will hold the guillotine blade 225 in spaced relationship to the blade 227 so as to prevent the severing of the tickets 30.

So long as the plunger 200 is depressed by the plate 118, the plate 210 will be held in its angular position so as to latch and hold the ledge or latch 216 and, thereby, hold the abutment member 261 in an appropriate rotated position for engagement by the bumper 266 at the commencement of the first cycle. Furthermore, this bumper 261 will be retained in its horizontal position until the plunger 200 is moved to the right in FIG. 2 by release of the lever 117.

A spring 270 connected between the plate 204 and the guillotine carrying bar 222 resiliently urges the guillotine 223 into surface to surface contact with the knife 228 for effective cutting action.

Integrally connected to the slide plate 240 and projecting below and rearwardly of the stop 265 is a counting lever actuating arm 271 which, upon each cycle of the machine, engages the head of the screw so as to depress the counting lever 91. This, in turn, causes indexing of the drum 125, as explained hereinabove.

The guillotine carrying bar 222 is provided with an upstanding finger 272 so that it may be manipulated manually, therewith if so desired.

Passing through the bar 222 is a downwardly projecting switch holding finger 273 in the form of a screw, so as to engage the arm 209, upon rearward movement of the bar 222, whereby the switch 205 is maintained in a closed position during rearward travel of bar 222 to assure completion of a cycle, before the switch 205 is opened.

Referring now to the conveyor mechanism for advancing the tickets 30a, it will be understood that the line of tickets 30 are fed from the tunnel 41a in an arcuate path and thereafter up between blades 225, 227 and then through the opening 47a. On the ticket feed side of the plate 204, i.e., the side opposite the side containing cam 250, the shaft 46 is provided with a collar 280 which is keyed to and rotates with the shaft 46, being retained in place by a retainer ring 281 on shaft 46 and a transverse pin 279 passing through shaft 46. Between the collar 280 and the plate 204 is an eccentric bushing 282 which is locked in position and remains a stationary on the plate 204. Its angular position, however, may be varied by loosening a set screw 283 which projects through an arcuate slot 284 in the bushing 282 and is threadably received by the plate 204. Carried for rotation by the bushing 282 is an annular ticket advancement ring or conveyor 285 which is provided along its periphery with a star wheel 286. The star wheel 286 is fixed with respect to the conveyor 285 and is provided with a plurality of outwardly or radially projecting pins 287 which are adapted successively to engage in holes 288 between adjacent tickets 30a. A plurality of rotation arresting pins 288 project axially from the conveyor wheel 285. A detent lever 290 which is pivotally connected by bolt 291 to the plate 204, projects on top of the collar 280 and terminates in a flat abutment edge 292, slightly beyond the collar 280. A spring 293 connected between the detent lever 290 and a guide 294, urges the detent lever 290 into engagement with the collar 280.

The ring or conveyor 285 is held in place by a set screw 295, seen in FIG. 9.

As seen in FIGS. 2, 3, 6, 7 and 8, the collar 280 which is rotated by shaft 46, is provided with a pair of radially projecting axially and circumferentially offset pins 296 and 297. The pin 296 is aligned radially with the detent lever 290 while the pin 297 is arranged to clear the lever 290, while engaging one of the rotation arresting pins 288.

As the cycle begins, the pin 296, upon rotation of shaft 46 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2 engages and lifts the lever 290, as seen in FIG. 6 while, at the same time, the pin 297 engages one of the pins 288 for rotating the conveyor wheel or conveyor 285. Since there are four axially projecting pins 288 equally spaced approximately 90 from each other, around the conveyor wheel 285, and since the pin 297 is sufficiently long, each revolution of the shaft 46 causes the pin 297 to advance the conveyor wheel 285 by l/4 revolution, or the distance for dispensing one ticket 309. Of course, once the pin 296 has lifted the lever 290, as shown in FIG. 7. the lever 290 is released so that it rides upon the pin 288 which is being driven by the pin 297. Thus, as the pin 297 clears its pin 288, as shown in FIG. 8, the lever 290 once again engages and rides upon the collar 280.

For cooperating with the conveyor wheel 285, in advancing the tickets 30a, there is a guide plate 300 disposed adjacent the bottom and forward periphery of the star wheel 286. A central slot 301 in this guide plate 300 permits free movement of the radially extending pins 287. The slot 301, as seen in FIG. 3, is not sufficiently wide, however, that it receives the wheel 286. It does permit free travel of the pins 287. The central portion of the plate 300 is curved through approxi mately conforming generally to the shape and diameter of the star wheel 286. The upper end portion of the plate 300 is straight, an approximately upright, being reversely bent to receive therein a transverse pivot pin 302. The ends of pin 302 protrude beyond the edges of the plate 300 and are received by plates 231 and 232 so that the plate 300 may pivot, thereabout.

The lower inner end portion of plate 300 is also straight, extending horizontally, rearwardly and being bent downwardly to provide a panel 303 disposed in front of the plunger 60 so that it may be depressed upon depression of the head 61. A spring 304, seen in FIG. 2, extends around the backside of the plate 300, being connected by one end to a hook 305 on the forwardmost portion of the plate 300 and being also connected by a pin 306 to the wall or plate 232. Thus the arcuate central portion of plate 300 is yieldably urged into contiguous relationship with the periphery of the star wheel 286. When head 61 is depressed, the plate 300 is moved away from star wheel 286 so that tickets may be inserted therebetween and frictionally held against the periphery of wheel 286 for conveying upon rotation of the wheel.

The lower rear portion of the plate 300 is provided with a transverse strap 308 which protrudes beyond the sides of plate 300 to arrest upward movement of the plate 300, the strap 308 engaging the walls or plates 232 and 231.

For confining the line 30 of tickets 30a in an appropriate path of travel, a guide 294 is provided, adjacent the outer side of star wheel 286. This guide 294 is connected to the forward end portion of the guide 220 and extends downwardly and then rearwardly in an arcuate path being secured by bolts (not shown) to the plate 204. The spring 293, extending from the rearmost portion of the guide 294 to the lever 290, urges the lever 290 into engagement with the collar 280.

It is, therefore, seen from the foregoing description that upon depressing of an appropriate key, such as key 42a, the lever 117 is caused to rotate forwardly, depressing plunger200 which closes switch 205 for actuating the motor (not shown) to drive shaft 46 through at least one revolution. The rotating of shaft 46 drives the cam 250 and the collar 280, simultaneously so that the cam 250 causes the guillotine carrying bar 222 to be retracted and then released, as the star wheel 286 is rotated through l/4 revolution. This advances the line 30 of tickets 30a by a distance equal to the length of a ticket 30a.

Since the key 42a is scheduled for five cycles, dispensing five tickets 30a, the plunger 200 will be held depressed by the lever 217 until the detent 106a is lifted in the fifth cycle by a cam of the drum 125. This lifting only takes place after five cycles of the machine (or four, or three or two or one if another key were depressed) the actuating arm 27] thus striking screw to depress arm 91 five times. Each cycle also depresses the lever 92 which carries the pawl 228 for advancing the drum 125. Hence, when the drum 125 reaches a prescribed angular position, its cam causes release of the detent 106a, which, in turn, releases the lever 117 so that the spring force on plunger 200 will return lever 117 to its unlatched position..The plunger 200, being urged by the action of spring 211 into its retracted position shuts off switch 205 and releases drum 215 so that it in turn permits the guillotine 223 to operate.

I claim:

1. The ticket dispensing machine comprises:

a housing having a hollow interior;

a control assembly within the hollow portion of said housing, said control assembly including a plurality ofjuxtaposed levers for selectively being depressed to prescribed the designated numbers of tickets to be dispensed from a line of tandem connected tickets;

a dispensing assembly in said hollow portion of said housing; said dispensing assembly including a conveyor for said tickets and cyclic drive means for said conveyor, each cycle of said drive means causing said conveyor to advance said line of tickets by one ticket; and

means for severing said tickets after the designated number of tickets have been dispensed;

said dispensing assembly including switch means for controlling said drive means, said switch means being connected to and actuated by said control assembly;

said control assembly including a plurality of detent means each being selectively operable for locking said switch means in its actuated position and release means cooperating with all of said detent means and responsive to the cycline of said drive means for being incrementally moved in response to each cycle of said drive means, said release means having actuation means driven by said drive means for actuating respective of said release means, each actuator means being operative at a different and successive cycle to release its associated detent means after the designated number of tickets has been dispensed.

2. The ticket dispensing means defined in claim 1 wherein said conveyor includes a star wheel having spaced pins extending radially therefrom for engaging in the holes in the tickets to be dispensed, a shaft driven by said drive means and carrying said star wheel for free rotation thereon; and means on said shaft for rotating said star wheel over an angular distance sufficient to dispense one ticket, upon each cycle of the machine.

3. The ticket dispensing machine defined in claim 2 including severing means for severing said tickets, said severing means including cyclicly operated guillotine driven by said drive means and capable of severing said tickets each cycle upon completing its travel in a given direction and means for arresting the travel of said guillotine in said direction during the period in which said drive means is energized.

4. The ticket dispensing machine defined in claim 1 wherein said conveyor includes a bushing, a star wheel mounted on said bushing and rotatable about the center of said bushing, said drive means projecting through a portion of said bushing adjacent its periphery, and interconnected means of driving said star wheel from said drive means by a fraction of a revolution upon each revolution of said drive means; and means for preventing rotation of said star wheel, except when driven by said drive means.

5. The ticket dispensing machine defined in claim 1 wherein said control assembly is disposed in the rear portion of said housing and said dispensing assembly is disposed in the front portion of said housing, said dispensing assembly being removable from said housing through the top portion thereof and said control assembly being removable from said housing through the rear portion thereof.

6. Dispensing mechanism defined in claim 1 wherein said control assembly is provided with a switch actuating member which is latched into operative position when one of said levers is depressed, and a plunger carried by said control assembly for being engaged by said member when said control assembly is actuated, said switch being disposed at one end of said plunger for being actuated by said plunger, a control plate disposed for actuation by said plunger and locking means for locking said severing means in a non-severing position, said locking means being actuated upon actuation of said second control plate by said plunger and being released upon release of said control plate by said plunger.

7. The ticket dispensing machine defined in claim 1 wherein said drive means is provided with an involute cam and wherein said guillotine is driven from said involute cam in a reciprocatory path.

8. The ticket dispensing machine defined in claim 1 wherein said conveyor includes an arcuate guide plate having a central slot, a star wheel disposed adjacent to said guide plate, said star wheel having spaced radially extending pins which ride in said slot during a portion of the peripheral travel thereof, said star wheel being driven from said drive means for feeding said tickets by said conveyor.

9. The ticket dispensing machine defined in claim 1 wherein said guillotine is provided with a stop for limiting its forward motion, and said dispensing assembly includes a block provided with radially spaced abutment members which are respectively engaged by said stop when such abutment member is disposed in a prescribed position and means actuated by the actuation of said control assembly for selectively rotating one of said abutment members into a position to be engaged by said stop during the period in which the tickets are being dispensed and for permitting rotation of said block to dispose the other said abutment members in position to be engaged by said stop when the last cycle is about to be completed, said stop controlling the actuation of said guillotine, for severing said tickets only after the last cycle.

10. The ticket dispensing machine defined in claim 1 wherein said release means includes a drum having a ratchet wheel, a pawl for rotating said ratchet wheel by a prescribed amount, said pawl being actuated once for each cycle of said dispensing assembly, said actuator means having a plurality of camming areas for selectively camming said detent means to a released position.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent 3 859.88O Janilary 14, 1975 lnvehtoflsk Willis T. Shackel ford It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

The inventor's name is corrected to read:

--W. T. Shacke1ford--.

Signed and sealed this 13th day of May 1975.

(SEAL) Attest:

C. MARSHALL DANN RUTH C. MASON Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer and Trademarks USCOMM'DC 60376-P69 iu.s. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE nu o-Ju-s34,

FORM PO-105O (10-69) 

1. The ticket dispensing machine comprises: a housing having a hollow interior; a control assembly within the hollow portion of said housing, said control assembly including a plurality of juxtaposed levers for selectively being depressed to prescribed the designated numbers of tickets to be dispensed from a line of tandem connected tickets; a dispensing assembly in said hollow portion of said housing; said dispensing assembly including a conveyor for said tickets and cyclic drive means for said conveyor, each cycle of said drive means causing said conveyor to advance said line of tickets by one ticket; and means for severing said tickets after the designated number of tickets have been dispensed; said dispensing assembly including switch means for controlling said drive means, said switch means being connected to and actuated by said control assembly; said control assembly including a plurality of detent means each being selectively operable for locking said switch means in its actuated position and release means cooperating with all of said detent means and responsive to the cycline of said drive means for being incrementally moved in response to each cycle of said drive means, said release means having actuation means driven by said drive means for actuating respective of said release means, each actuator means being operative at a different and successive cycle to release its associated detent means after the designated number of tickets has been dispensed.
 2. The ticket dispensing means defined in claim 1 wherein said conveyor includes a star wheel having spaced pins extending radially therefrom for engaging in the holes in the tickets to be dispensed, a shaft driven by said drive means and carrying said star wheel for free rotation thereon; and means on said shaft for rotating said star wheel over an angular distance sufficient to dispense one ticket, upon each cycle of the machine.
 3. The ticket dispensing machine defined in claim 2 including severing means for severing said tickets, said severing means including cyclicly operated guillotine driven by said drive means and capable of severing said tickets each cycle upon completing its travel in a given direction and means for arresting the travel of said guillotine in said direction during the period in which said drive means is energized.
 4. The ticket dispensing machine defined in claim 1 wherein said conveyor includes a bushing, a star wheel mounted on said bushing and rotatable about the center of said bushing, said drive means projecting through a portion of said bushing adjacent its periphery, and interconnected means of driving said star wheel from said drive means by a fraction of a revolution upon each revolution of said drive means; and means for preventing rotation of said star wheel, except when driven by said drive means.
 5. The ticket dispensing machine defined in claim 1 wherein said control assembly is disposed in the rear portion of said housing and said dispensing assembly is disposed in the front portion of said housing, said dispensing assembly being removable from said housing through the top portion thereof and said control asseMbly being removable from said housing through the rear portion thereof.
 6. Dispensing mechanism defined in claim 1 wherein said control assembly is provided with a switch actuating member which is latched into operative position when one of said levers is depressed, and a plunger carried by said control assembly for being engaged by said member when said control assembly is actuated, said switch being disposed at one end of said plunger for being actuated by said plunger, a control plate disposed for actuation by said plunger and locking means for locking said severing means in a non-severing position, said locking means being actuated upon actuation of said second control plate by said plunger and being released upon release of said control plate by said plunger.
 7. The ticket dispensing machine defined in claim 1 wherein said drive means is provided with an involute cam and wherein said guillotine is driven from said involute cam in a reciprocatory path.
 8. The ticket dispensing machine defined in claim 1 wherein said conveyor includes an arcuate guide plate having a central slot, a star wheel disposed adjacent to said guide plate, said star wheel having spaced radially extending pins which ride in said slot during a portion of the peripheral travel thereof, said star wheel being driven from said drive means for feeding said tickets by said conveyor.
 9. The ticket dispensing machine defined in claim 1 wherein said guillotine is provided with a stop for limiting its forward motion, and said dispensing assembly includes a block provided with radially spaced abutment members which are respectively engaged by said stop when such abutment member is disposed in a prescribed position and means actuated by the actuation of said control assembly for selectively rotating one of said abutment members into a position to be engaged by said stop during the period in which the tickets are being dispensed and for permitting rotation of said block to dispose the other said abutment members in position to be engaged by said stop when the last cycle is about to be completed, said stop controlling the actuation of said guillotine, for severing said tickets only after the last cycle.
 10. The ticket dispensing machine defined in claim 1 wherein said release means includes a drum having a ratchet wheel, a pawl for rotating said ratchet wheel by a prescribed amount, said pawl being actuated once for each cycle of said dispensing assembly, said actuator means having a plurality of camming areas for selectively camming said detent means to a released position. 